The Town FilesOakland, Illinois
City in Coles County · population 739 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,100
- Household income
- $50,848
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 49.6
Oakland is a city of 739 people in Coles County, Illinois. The median home is worth $98,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Illinois towns, quieter than 82% of Illinois towns, hipper than 70% of Illinois towns.
How Oakland ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oakland is worth $98,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $50,848, which is more affordable than 68% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $506 a month. 77.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oakland | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $506 | $960 |
| Median household income | $50,848 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oakland
| People | Oakland | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 90.4% |
Weather in Oakland
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 22, 1963 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 1, 2016.
Severe weather in Coles County since 1996
Coles County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Coles County
Coles County had 23,930 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,987 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Oakland itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Oakland
2 public schools with 247 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Crest Elem School | PK-8 | 182 | 9.6 |
| Oakland High School | 9-12 | 65 | 6.5 |
Towns near Oakland
- Kansas, IL8.5 mi · 670 people · home $70,800
- Ashmore, IL8.8 mi · 637 people · home $91,700
- Newman, IL9.8 mi · 778 people · home $101,900
- Westfield, IL14.1 mi · 536 people · home $85,600
- Charleston, IL14.4 mi · 17,286 people · home $137,400
- Arcola, IL14.6 mi · 2,927 people · home $124,100
- Villa Grove, IL15.9 mi · 2,472 people · home $125,700
- Tuscola, IL16.3 mi · 4,636 people · home $154,300
Oakland questions
Is Oakland, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oakland scores better for retirees than 57% of Illinois towns and quieter than 82%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Oakland?
The median owner-occupied home in Oakland is valued at $98,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,848, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $506 a month.
What is the weather like in Oakland?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 18.1 inches of snow.
Does Oakland get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 22, 1963. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)